Zimstat embarks on 2023/24 demographic health survey

Harare (New Ziana)-The National Statistical Agency (Zimstat) has started collecting data in communities for the 2023/24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), a representative household study that collects key population and health indicators important for government policy formulation.

The ZDHS is a periodic survey is conducted after 5 years.

Data collection runs from December 2 this year to May 30 next year with a total of 11 200 households expected to be covered.

The ZDHS aims to provide current information on a wide range of demographic, health and social facets including, but not limited to, child health and nutrition, reproduction, contraceptive practices, education, employment, marriage and sexual activity.

It also provides information on fertility preferences, mortality, malaria, maternal health care, HIV/Aids, mental health and other health issues, domestic violence, as well as housing characteristics.

Zimstat acting director general Matiwonesa Phiri urged the public to cooperate with the agency’s enumerators.

“The ZDHS will be conducted on a nationally representative sample of 11 200 households randomly selected across the ten provinces of the country. Statistics produced through the survey are key to the government as they inform the design, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes aimed at improving the health and well-being of Zimbabweans, while moving towards equitable growth in which no one and no place is left behind.

“Other stakeholders also use the statistics in their decision-making processes, programming and research, among others. Statistics produced from the ZDHS will also inform on progress made towards regional, continental and global initiatives including the SADC Vision 2050, Africa Agenda 2063 and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

Acting chief director for monitoring and evaluation, informatics and principal investigator for ZDHS in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Rugare Kangwende, said the results of the survey will be used to evaluate the Health and Well-Being of citizens.

“This year will be the first time that the ZDHS will be collecting information on mental health and obstetric fistula. My Ministry looks forward to understanding the nature and extent of these problems in the country, and informing Mental Health and Reproductive Health programming.

“We are aware of the burden of mental health, particularly drug and substance abuse and other related mental health issues. They are becoming more and more, we can see it but we would like to have the data so that when we implement our interventions we can tell whether it’s going up or down. Definitely mental health came as a request from the users including us,” she said.

New Ziana